KNEE ARTHRITIS - Changing the forces through the joint :

Buying Time To Avoid HTO - New OA Unloader Brace - - Posted by Lizzie (Lizzie - UK), 24 November 2003

I've managed to organise a custom fitted OA Unloader brace from Innovation Sports in Wimbledon through my local NHS hospital.  I had a bit of work to do, but in the end I got my way.  

I did some investigating and realised that the CTi2 OA brace made by Innovations Sports and supplied by Technology in Motion would suit my needs the best, taking into account that I have hypermobility syndrome and possible Fibromyalgia as well.

I have found the brace very comfortable although my hypermobility causes me to have to adjust my gait accordingly to prevent my shin from being bruised from the pressure of the tibia plate.

I am really pleased with my brace and anything to buy me time from having to undergo a HTO.  I am also going to be measured up for some foot orthotics as I have not only a varus gait on my right leg, but a valgus gait on my left leg.  Something called the wind tunnel effect!  I am not bowlegged or knockkneed.  Nothing simple.  I have just undergone my 13th surgery.  I had a complex tear of my medial meniscus on my left knee and now it is down to the rim.  

My OS has diagnosed that I have Grade 3/4 OA and at 35 years of age, I want to be able to move around without too much pain.

I have lost 2 and a half Stone and hope to loose more.  I have started a series of hydrotherapy exercises to help burn the fat and also to strengthen my legs without having too much weight through them.

I just hope that I might be thought of to have experiments to replace my menisci!  I can only wish.

I shall be looking into whatever I can do.
Posted by dm (dm), 11 January 2004

I started wearing an OA brace full time about 7 months ago, 6 months postop, with the same intent. I have so little meniscus left that I will eventually need an HTO. The question is when. I feel that if I can keep the bones off each other as much as possible, then that ought to slow down the wear on the knee.

I'm due for a new set of xrays to see what the knee looks like, 1 yr postop and after 7 mos of bracing.

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